Wheeling student named semifinalist in Harvard debate tournament

Wheeling High School’s Congress Debate team competed at the national Harvard Congressional Debate Tournament in Cambridge, Mass., where more than 500 students competed.

At the three-day tournament held in February, 10 Wheeling students, led by head Coach Mike Hurley and assistant coach Adriana Soto, worked together with other Illinois schools to represent the state. Wheeling has debated at this tournament two times in the last 10 years, and this marked their third time competing at Harvard.

Wheeling debaters Katie Chong and MJ Hurley both advanced to the quarterfinal round. Chong, a senior and the team captain, later advanced to the semifinal round, the farthest a Wheeling debater has ever gone at the Harvard tournament.

Head coach Mike Hurley was ecstatic about students’ performance. “This is an extraordinary experience, a memory for a lifetime. We debated against the best in the country, at the most prestigious university. It doesn't get any better than that.”